The recovery of economic activity in Alicante province is a reality after two years marked by restrictions to deal with the covid health crisis. However, this positive development also had a dark side in the workplace, as the increase in the fatal accident rate, which was worst reflected in fatal accidents, was experienced in fatal accidents, which tripled in the first half of the year. 18 deaths compared to six deaths in the same period. The union CC OO expressed outrage at this situation, calling for a shock plan from the Labor Inspectorate that includes more pressure to force companies to adequately protect their workers.
According to data newly published by the Ministry of Labor, Accidents during working hours increased by approximately 6% in total In the province of Alicante, this figure increased from 7,246 in the first half of the year in the same period of the previous year to 7,851 in the current period. Of the total, 7,545 were minor and 61 were serious, and also 15 fatalities were taken into account. To these figures, it is necessary to add the number of accidents recorded on the way to and from the workplace, which increased by 27% from 974 to 1,237 in this case. In this episode, 1,216 were minor and 18 were serious, three of which were fatal. The sum of both divisions presents the death toll of 18, a triple of what was achieved in the first half of 2021.
While the construction sector was the sector that brought together the highest number of work accidents with 1,326, it was followed by the manufacturing industry with 1,277 and the two activities related to services such as the trade and repair of motor vehicles and hotel management with 1,103. industry, 832. Administrative activities and auxiliary services made up 618, health and social services made up 585.
with regard to incidence ratethat is, the number of accidents per 100,000 people on Alicante Social Security is at 188.8, below 219.5 for the Community of Valencia and 236.5 for Spain, something to be explained in the provincial production model. However, regarding fatal accidents, the incidence is 0.370, higher than 0.296 for the Community and 0.277 for the country.
Mila Cano, technician from CC OO Occupational Health office, underlines that, in her opinion, the main reasons for the increase in accidents remain. lack of specific preventive measures, the lack of preventive management in the organization of companies and the low investments of companies in improving the production model and working conditions. The same adds Cano with the Administration on strengthening their technical institutes and Labor Inspection.
With all this, they stress that they continue to demand and report from the union that companies must comply with their legal obligations, in their workplaces, in corporate forums, and in the Inspection itself. effectively protect workers. “Almost 30 years after the approval of the Law on the Prevention of Occupational Risks, it is essential that the organizational culture of our business fabric change, given that it is unacceptable that the health of employees continues to be represented. a downstream contract and outsourced With a prevention service to deliver documents”, Mila Cano emphasizes.
The CC OO technique reaffirms that genuine participation must be given to workers and prevention delegates to improve the situation in companies and, in this sense, encourages the promotion and continued progress of social dialogue on occupational health through participation. new Valencia strategy for occupational safety, health and well-being. In his own words, “it is extremely important to agree on lines of action and specific measures with adequate budgetary allocations to be able to develop them”.
Informal economy is an additional risk factor
While CC OO warned that the uncontrolled informal economy is an additional risk factor for occupational accidents, it also prevented many mishaps from occurring. According to Pepo Ruiz, the union’s communications secretary at L’Alacanti-Les Marines, some of the accidents recorded in this area “refer as domestic accidents, or the worker is hospitalized directly with a recommendation not to say what happened in the pit”. Ruiz said the solution, programs He points out that it is to seek consensus in the participation bodies of companies that allow agile decisions to be made on issues such as adaptation to temperatures, changes in uniformity or the preparation of certain protocols.